Try re-selecting the sheet...

Private Sub cbGenerateIssue_Click()
Sheets("Issue worksheet").Select
Sheets("Issue worksheet").Copy Before:=Sheets(1)
Sheets("Issue worksheet (2)").Select
Sheets("Issue worksheet (2)").Name = "1st Issue"
ActiveSheet.Shapes("cbReformat").Select
Selection.Delete
ActiveSheet.Shapes("cbGenerateIssue").Select
Selection.Delete
' --------> this next line fails (or any variation of it)
Sheets("1st Issue").Select
Rows("5:7").Select

Selecting can be a little problematic. I avoid selecting wherever possible
so I hope this works...

HTH


"mark kubicki" wrote:

> select method of range class fails (AUGHHH!!!)
> sheet is unprotected
> sheet has a control button "cbGenerateIssue"
> code had been created by recording a macro (where it worked...)
> select fails even if control button , which calls the code, has not yet been
> deleted
>
>
> Private Sub cbGenerateIssue_Click()
> Sheets("Issue worksheet").Select
> Sheets("Issue worksheet").Copy Before:=Sheets(1)
> Sheets("Issue worksheet (2)").Select
> Sheets("Issue worksheet (2)").Name = "1st Issue"
> ActiveSheet.Shapes("cbReformat").Select
> Selection.Delete
> ActiveSheet.Shapes("cbGenerateIssue").Select
> Selection.Delete
> ' --------> this next line fails (or any variation of it)
> Rows("5:7").Select
>
>
>
> had tried some variations:
> ...Sheets("1st Issue).Rows("5...
> ...put the select into a function
> ... moved the calling control deletion to after select...
> nothing
>
> thanks in advance,
> mark
>
>
>